KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 -- James Chai, a former aide to Malaysia's ex-economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, has denied allegations of misappropriation linked to a RM1.1 billion government deal with British semiconductor firm ARM Limited, calling the investigation politically motivated.

Chai, who served as a special functions officer until mid-2025, issued a statement following the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) public search for him.

The agency's chief commissioner, Tan Sri Azam Baki, confirmed earlier that investigators are examining potential abuse of power and fraud related to the 2024 semiconductor collaboration.

"I am not Jho Low 2.0," Chai said, referencing the fugitive financier at the centre of the 1MDB scandal...